Counselling for endometriosis

Counselling
may be a good option if you feel you cannot cope with the emotional roller
coaster caused by endometriosis, and your friends and family are not able to provide the support you so desperately need.

Therapies:

Counselling and psychotherapy covers a wide range of
techniques used to ease psychological and emotional suffering. Whether treating emotional distress or
promoting self-awareness, these therapies offer the chance to understand and
resolve difficult thoughts, feelings and situations by talking to a skilled
listener.

The role of counselling

Counselling usually focuses on specific problems, such as
bereavement or issues around illness, or job loss, rather than deep-seated
personal issues. A counsellor is
supportive and skilled in listening, and will prompt you to talk freely, but
will probe less deeply than a psychotherapist, and will only offer limited
advice.

Instead, your thoughts and feelings are reflected back to
you to increase your self-awareness. A
counsellor will also help you to look at your situation from different
perspectives in order to gain fresh insights and find your own solutions.

If you are depressed or lack self-confidence,
you may feel encouraged to stand up for yourself, or you may learn to express
difficult emotions, such as anger, sadness or fear.

Seeing a counsellor can help you to obtain objective
feed-back about your own personal situation.
Counselling gives you the space to explore your own thoughts and
feelings.

Sometimes during these exploration, you may have a sudden insight into your own situation, which only by talking freely allows to happen.

You need an 'objective' listener

It is valuable to talk to friends, family, or your
partner, but these people have a vested interest; they will not be able to
listen objectively; they will have the tendency to interrupt you while you are
in full flow, which can be quite destructive and deflating for you emotionally;
also their own emotions will weigh in on the situation, especially if they have
been trying to support you with the emotional burden of endometriosis.

Therefore it is the value of having someone who will really listen that is important in
counselling. By expressing your needs,
worries, anger, and all the other emotions, you are giving yourself the chance
to vocalise and clarify what action to take.

Releasing the burden of endometriosis

Dealing with endometriosis, is a huge burden on the
emotions. This burden could prove too
much not only for yourself, but also to pour out onto your loved ones. By seeing a counsellor, some of this burden
can be lifted.

It may also help you
decide what action to take with regard to your treatment; what actions and
decisions you need to take in life regarding things like work,finances and other practical issues in
life.

When choosing a counsellor you need to ask about training
and qualifications, and whether she (I feel it is advisable for you to see a
female counsellor) belongs to a professional body. It is essential to trust your counsellor and
that you feel relaxed with them.
Otherwise the process will be counter-productive.